Weight Loss Progress

Thursday, January 24

The last couple of weeks have been an adventure. Unfortunately, not an adventure I've enjoyed.

I haven't said anything about this previously, but it's really affecting my day-to-day life. So much so that I've been out of work for the last 2 weeks.

I've been suffering with chronic muscle spasms for a few years now, thanks to a car accident in 1999. It's usually managable, but unfortunately I have flare ups sometimes. The end of October I suffered a major flare up ... my neck muscles became very inflamed and painful. I started going to physical therapy and was actually getting some relief. We were making progress - my therapist was able to break up some of the knots (spasms) and get the muscles to start relaxing.

One morning two weeks ago I was still in bed and stretched, with my arms above my head. I felt something pop in my neck. Major pain ensued and there was numbness in my left upper arm and hand. After two weeks of bed rest, major drugs, multiple doctor visits, consults with orthopaedists, and numerous tests (x-rays, an EMG and an MRI), it has been determined that I have a herniated disk (C6-C7) and it is pressing on the C7 nerve, which is the one that runs down my left arm.

I'm waiting to see a specialist for an epidural cortisone injection. There's no guarantee that this will work, but I'm willing to try anything before I agree to surgery.

Unfortunately the pain and numbness have seriously affected my knitting. My knitting mojo has gone bye bye. I'm ready to get back to my real life and my knitting.

Please think happy healing thoughts and pray for me. I can use all the help I can get right now.